Chapter 360: Catastrophe

Inside the palace.

Battered by recent events, the Emperor's vitality was depleted. His body was extremely frail, his face aged and haggard, resembling a man on the verge of death. This condition wasn't solely due to the tragic deaths of his sons, but also the consequence of excessive elixir consumption, leading to an accumulation of toxins and a vicious cycle of decline.

The Emperor sat upon the dragon throne, while Zhenle gently massaged his temples. This was a privilege countless princes and princesses yearned for, yet lacked the qualification to perform.

A heavy silence hung in the air within the palace. An elderly eunuch stood with bowed head in the corner, his heart heavy. He occasionally glanced towards the two figures on the throne, sensing that something was about to happen.

"Zhenle," the Emperor began, his voice weak, his body debilitated, "Your brothers have been murdered by treacherous hands. My heart aches with grief. Who will inherit the throne now? Tell me your thoughts."

Hearing her father's question, Zhenle smiled. "This is a decision for Father to make. I dare not speak out of turn."

"Zhenle, you are my good child. Even at this point, do you still wish to continue this charade?" The Emperor appeared weary, yet more than that, disbelieving. Perhaps from the moment he learned the truth, he truly hadn't imagined that such ruthlessness could exist within his own children, completely disregarding brotherly affection and resorting to utter extermination.

Zhenle paused momentarily, her movements ceasing. Then, smiling, she resumed gently pressing the Emperor's head. However, this time it wasn't a massage. Her fingernails traced his scalp, as if toying with a ball, contemplating where to strike.

"When did Father find out?" she asked.

"Hmm... let me think. It seems there were no flaws. Please tell me, Father, where did I reveal myself? So that I may better conceal it in the future." Zhenle showed no fear, only an air of amusement.

Seeing Zhenle's lack of remorse and hearing her words, the Emperor felt deeply disappointed. He couldn't comprehend why she had become like this. What had happened? Had he known, perhaps he wouldn't have felt this way.

"Forget it, it's best not to dwell on it. Since you know, it's time to lay our cards on the table, Father. You know why I've done all this, don't you? Why not write an imperial edict and abdicate? I could become the first Empress of the Great Yuan Dynasty."

"And Father, you can enjoy your retirement."

Zhenle had long desired control of the Great Yuan Dynasty. Now, with the opportune moment arrived, she no longer wished to hide. What could they do even if they knew? Everything was too late. She had grown from someone once incapable of harming a chicken. Who could stand in her way?

"Haha..." The Emperor laughed, his frail body belying a sense of control. "Zhenle, you still think too much. You think that by murdering your brothers, you can become the Empress of the Great Yuan Dynasty? No... you think too simply."

Zhenle frowned, failing to grasp the Emperor's meaning. Was he making a last-ditch effort?

The Emperor slowly continued, "Throughout the dynasties, every imperial family has arranged for a prince to be raised outside the palace, entrusted to the most virtuous and respected individuals. While you were busy eliminating your brothers, I anticipated this day would come."

"Therefore, your dream of becoming Empress will remain just that – a dream."

"During the time I summoned you, I have already drafted the imperial edict of abdication and sent it away. Your position is precarious."

Slap!

Zhenle's five fingers gripped the Emperor's head, her eyes filled with ferocity.

"You're courting death."

The Emperor retorted, "Are you trying to commit patricide? I tell you, if you dare to kill your father, heaven and earth will not tolerate it."

Splat!

With a slight exertion of force, Zhenle's fingers crushed the Emperor's head. It burst like a watermelon.

The elderly eunuch standing below remained motionless, then knelt and bowed.

"Hail the Empress."

Zhenle, her face grim, tossed the Emperor's corpse aside, her hands clasped behind her back, a fierce glint in her eyes.

"Good. I'll wait for them to come. However many come, however many I will kill." She exuded dominance. Killing intent surged. Zhenle had endured for years for this. She wanted nothing more than to turn the Great Yuan Dynasty upside down. Revenge! To release the hatred within her heart.

The elderly eunuch's mind was under Zhenle's control. If not, he would have surely exclaimed in shock: "Heavens! Princess Zhenle, have you completely lost your mind? You have no control over the army, and you are a woman. Who will obey you?"

Unfortunately, the eunuch possessed no independent thoughts. Even if it was a trap, he could only blame his bad luck.

The West Palace Courtyard!

Consort Xian lived a relatively comfortable life. Although she had consistently mistreated Zhenle, the saying "a mother's status is elevated by her daughter's" held true. Because Zhenle had proactively gained the Emperor's trust, Consort Xian's life had improved as well.

Initially, Consort Xian had worried whether Zhenle would report her past abuses to the Emperor.

But soon...

She realized that Zhenle hadn't said a word, and she completely relaxed, even feeling smug. She thought Zhenle wouldn't dare speak ill of her to the Emperor, even if she had ten times the courage.

Just as Consort Xian was lost in thought, a figure she found highly irritating appeared. Seeing Zhenle with blood-stained robes, she scolded, "How can you appear in such a manner?"

Zhenle ignored her words, gazing at the familiar surroundings.

"After all these years, the architecture here hasn't changed."

She disregarded Consort Xian, observing her surroundings. This blatant disregard infuriated Consort Xian, who ordered the surrounding servants, "Get her out of here!"

She didn't dare order them to beat Zhenle as she had in the past. Regardless, Zhenle's status had indeed risen.

Hearing their mistress's command, the servants, though nervous, still braced themselves and approached Zhenle.

"I remember you. You were the one who spat on me, weren't you?" Zhenle asked one of the approaching servants, her tone calm.

The servant frowned, unsure of Zhenle's intentions. She thought to herself that she had been too lenient back then.

"Princess Zhenle, it was indeed this servant," the servant replied, not sensing anything amiss. She didn't believe anything could happen to her.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhenle slapped her. The servant was sent flying, then exploded with a bang. Blood splattered across the courtyard.

"Ah!" Screams erupted.

The servants stared in disbelief at the scene before them, as if they had seen a ghost. How was this possible? How dare she kill?

"What are you trying to do?" Consort Xian yelled.

Zhenle smiled. "I've waited a long time for this day. If it weren't for the fear of you interfering with my plans, you wouldn't have lived this long."

"What are you talking about?" Consort Xian found the Zhenle before her terrifying, and she retreated in fear. "If you dare harm me, His Majesty will not spare you."

"I've imagined many ways to torment you, but now that I have the chance, I really, really want to kill you right now." Zhenle smiled, then looked at the terrified servants. "I'll give you a chance. Use the same methods you used to torture me to torture her."

The servants panicked, unsure what to do.

While they hesitated, Zhenle's eyes turned cold. She raised her hand, and a powerful surge of cultivation erupted. A nearby servant levitated as if choked by an invisible force, her legs kicking, her face turning blue.

Crack!

A crisp sound echoed.

The servant's neck snapped, and she fell to the ground, motionless, killed by Zhenle.

"I don't like to wait. Otherwise, she will be your fate," Zhenle stated.

Her seemingly gentle words chilled the servants to the bone. They had never imagined Princess Zhenle could be so terrifying. A true devil. No... worse than a devil.

Consort Xian watched the servants approach her and shouted, "Zhenle, how dare you treat me like this! His Majesty will not forgive you!"

"Haha..." Zhenle laughed. "That old fool, I've personally sent him on his way. He pretended to care for me, but why didn't he appear when I was in despair, allowing you to humiliate and beat me? My Cuirong was chopped into mincemeat and fed to the dogs by you! I swore long ago that I would make you pay."

"Now the opportunity has come. I possess unmatched power in this world. Who dares to stop me?"

As she spoke these words, Consort Xian's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe her ears. Then, recalling the bloodstains on Zhenle's clothes upon arrival, she shrieked, "You... you will die a horrible death!"

Soon, screams echoed.

Zhenle laughed, watching the scene unfold. The hatred buried deep within her heart seemed to be completely released. The sense of satisfaction could only be imagined by those who had endured such pain and finally found release.

The Emperor's murder at the hands of rebels shocked the world.

And the culprit emerged: Princess Zhao Zhenle.

This revelation stunned everyone. They found it hard to believe without witnessing it firsthand, as it was patricide.

Moreover, those princes were also killed by Zhenle. They were her brothers! How could she do such a thing?

And what was most terrifying was that she single-handedly eliminated all the princes. Such methods were demonic, no... worse than demonic. Truly evil.

Everyone knew that Zhao Zhenle cultivated the Nine Nether Divine Scripture, a lost, peerless demonic art. She no longer possessed human emotions, and her demonic nature was deeply rooted, difficult to eradicate.

Dajue Temple.

The last remaining prince had been sent here to be raised by a divine monk.

"His Majesty has been murdered by Zhao Zhenle. Here is the imperial edict. Prince, from now on, you are the Emperor. Now is the time to summon the heroes of the world to eliminate the witch Zhao Zhenle and restore peace and order. This matter requires your intervention."

The divine monk knew that a catastrophe was imminent. Zhao Zhenle, having cultivated the Nine Nether Divine Scripture, had become the most terrifying being in the world. To eliminate her, individual efforts were futile.